They gathered around rectangular device lying in snow with black surface reflecting pale northern light, metal edges gleaming, construction precise beyond anything Theia's civilizations could produce.
Completely foreign.
Draven crouched beside it carefully without touching yet, examining strange smooth surface like polished obsidian but perfectly flat and flawless. Metal frame surrounded black glass with small circular protrusions on back, purpose unknown, buttons on sides with function mysterious.
Warm to proximity despite frozen environment as residual heat from dimensional crossing still radiated.
From Earth, technological world, device purpose completely unknown.
Malvorn's earth communion probed gently, detecting manufactured materials and precise construction but no understanding of function, just artifact from other cursed world.
Larger than paper clip significantly as pattern escalated.
Zor's tactical voice cut through contemplative silence. "Gate expelled paper clip weeks ago. Now this, significantly larger object. Pattern clear. Objects increasing in size. Gate expanding incrementally."
Purple lightning crackled faintly around Thunder Raven form. "Progression suggests eventually person-sized objects could cross. Then living creatures. Beings from Earth entering Theia."
Velnar clicked agreement. "Unknown entities from world we don't understand. Could be harmless. Could be dangerous. Could be diseased, corrupted, hostile."
Sylvara added analytical concern. "Gate continues widening. We have no method to stop it, control it, or predict what comes through next."
Uncertainty compounded as dimensional barrier thinned with no control over process.
Frostina's elegant form settled nearby with snow swirling perpetually around sapphire scales, concentric ice-ring eyes studying device with composed intensity. "Gate in my territory. Growing in my domain. Expelling unknown objects that could potentially threaten my followers."
Gentle voice carried absolute conviction. "If eventually living creatures cross, hostile beings, dangerous entities, my responsibility to protect northern regions. But how do I defend against threats I cannot predict from world I don't understand?"
Strategic mind processed impossible variables. "We need more information. About Earth. About this device. About what might come through next."
Territorial sovereign faced unknown invasion potential, powerless despite Overlord strength.
***
Naelvorn crouched beside device in human form with teal eyes bright with irrepressible curiosity as mischievous energy proved impossible to contain even in serious circumstances.
"So this thing came from Earth, huh? Wonder what it does!"
Seven-foot frame leaned closer, examining smooth black surface with fascination. "Looks kinda like black crystal. But flat. Perfect. And these buttons on the side, what happens if I..."
Finger reached toward side button before anyone could stop him.
Draven started, "Wait, we don't know—"
Too late.
Naelvorn's finger pressed button with characteristic impulsiveness.
Click.
Screen lit up.
Sudden brilliant glow emanated from black surface as rectangular section illuminated with colors, images, text appearing across glass.
Everyone startled back.
Light source inside device? How? Magic? Technology? Unknown mechanism producing illumination from within solid object?
Screen displayed time, date, notification icons, wallpaper image, all meaningless to Theia natives, just glowing symbols and pictures on previously dark surface.
Naelvorn's grin widened. "WHOA! It LIGHTS UP! That's SO COOL!"
Feyra's small voice was awed. "Pretty glowing pictures..."
Malvorn leaned closer analytically as Velnar observed cautiously and Sylvara's nature magic detected energy flow with minimal power consumption, efficient design, completely foreign principles.
Device activated with purpose still unknown but functioning.
Draven stared at glowing rectangle as images shifted slightly, symbols arranged in patterns, colors vivid against black background.
Earth's technology, communication device probably, information storage possibly, but exact function remained complete mystery.
Screen brightness dimmed slightly as power-saving mode activated automatically, device operating independently, following programmed instructions from world without magic.
Alive somehow, not living but functioning autonomously.
Before anyone could speculate further, Genesis Codex reacted.
***
Genesis Codex pulsed brilliantly with green-gold light flaring intensely as cosmic presence manifested fully.
Adhivar's voice erupted from floating book, loud and commanding, resonating across frozen wasteland:
"BRING THAT DEVICE TO US. IMMEDIATELY."
Not telepathic whisper to Draven, not private communication.
Public declaration with voice carrying authority absolute, power undeniable, presence cosmic.
Everyone who knew, Draven, Malvorn, Naelvorn, pack, remained unsurprised as familiar occurrence when Genesis Codex spoke openly when necessary.
But Frostina—
Ice Overlord's elegant form froze completely as concentric ice-ring eyes widened, frost bloomed explosively along sapphire scales, snow swirled chaotically around her.
Shock absolute.
Book speaks.
Artifact floating beside bearer talks with intelligence, consciousness, power.
Frostina's strategic mind raced through implications at impossible speed.
Not simple artifact but living entity contained within, speaking, commanding, demonstrating awareness and will.
Power radiated from Genesis Codex with cosmic energy she'd never encountered, pressure beyond Overlord tier, presence transcending anything she'd witnessed.
Tier above Overlord.
Raziel had mentioned it months ago via network, speculation about power levels beyond their own. Epic tier. Beings surpassing even Overlords' strength.
Frostina had been skeptical because Overlords seemed pinnacle. What could exist beyond?
This.
Cosmic entity residing in book, speaking with authority that made even her, Glacial Queen, Ice Overlord, sovereign of northern reaches, feel suddenly small.
"Raziel was right," she breathed quietly as composed exterior cracked slightly. "Epic tier exists. Power beyond Overlords."
Assumption made as tier hierarchy extended upward.
She didn't know how wrong she was.
Draven was already moving, picking up activated smartphone carefully and approaching Genesis Codex.
Malvorn remained unsurprised, bonded to bearer and aware that cosmic entities resided within artifact.
Naelvorn grinned. "Yeah, bro! Adhivar's LOUD when he wants attention! Cool, right?" Ocean Overlord was completely comfortable with talking book.
Pack was familiar as Velnar, Sylvara, Feyra, Zor had all traveled with Genesis Codex for months, heard Adhivar speak countless times.
Only Frostina experienced revelation.
Everyone else treated it as normal Tuesday.
Draven presented activated device to floating book as glowing screen displayed incomprehensible symbols, Earth's technology meeting cosmic artifact.
Genesis Codex's green-gold light intensified, scanning smartphone thoroughly as energy probed device, analyzing construction, reading data somehow.
Adhivar's voice came quieter now, focused. "Fascinating. This device contains..."
Trailing off as processing, discovering something.
Silence stretched as everyone waited.
What did cosmic entity find?
***
Smartphone glowing in Draven's hands. Codex analyzing silently. Everyone waiting.
Gate swirling behind them—dimensional bridge widening slowly, barrier thinning, worlds touching closer.
Discovery pending. What secrets did Earth device contain? What would cosmic entity find?
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